Deb Schrag, MD, MPH

I am a medical oncologist specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers with a particular emphasis on lower GI tract tumors, which include rectal, colon, and anal cancer. In the 20-plus years that I have cared for patients with these types of cancers, I have had the privilege to be a member of teams that have conducted foundational trials that have improved outcomes so that patients are living not only longer, but also better. Currently, I am the leader of a large national trial that seeks to streamline and personalize the way we treat patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. I am especially focused on optimizing care by collaborating with surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists to improve patient outcomes. I am inspired and motivated by the tremendous progress that has been made since the 1990s. Patients with advanced colorectal cancer are now able to survive with good quality of life for extended periods. This progress was achieved through intensive partnerships, team science, and including patients as partners in the design of research trials. My goal is to accelerate progress using this approach.

My training in medicine and medical oncology began at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and I launched my career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a member of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service. From 2008 to 2021, I practiced medical oncology in the GI oncology group at Dana-Farber and was a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. In 2021, I returned to MSK to serve as Chair of the Department of Medicine. Although I dedicate considerable energy to leadership in academic medicine, caring for patients has always been my primary source of inspiration. I remain connected to my patients and their families across the country and am motivated by the journeys of those who succumbed to cancer and those who have been cured or are living with advanced cancer.

I am a strong proponent of making cancer care options transparent to patients by ensuring that they are equipped with all of the knowledge necessary to make informed choices at every step. I am the architect of systems to engage patients in reporting on how they feel and function during cancer treatment and of initiatives to make electronic health records and clinical trials open and accessible. My approach is to partner with my patients and their families to help them understand the array of treatment options and to develop a customized treatment plan that leverages the most up-to-date scientific knowledge. My research focuses on ensuring that the discoveries in the laboratory translate from research to reality to achieve maximum benefit and public health impact. I am a firm believer that by enhancing the way that care is delivered, we can achieve better outcomes for more patients.